A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1791 – A traffic regulation in New York, NY, established the first “one way” street.
1888 – The Dental Society of Grand Rapids was organized.
1903 – Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful gasoline powered airplane flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, NC.
1908 – The first factory-made internal-combustion fire truck when into service in Lansing, MI.
1953 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided to approve RCA’s color television specifications.
1959 – The film “On the Beach” premiered in New York, NY and in 17 other cities. It was the first motion picture to debut simultaneously in major cities around the world.
1969 – The U.S. Air Force closed its Project “Blue Book” by concluding that there was no evidence of extraterrestrial spaceships behind thousands of UFO sightings.
1969 – Television history was made when Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki Budinger were married on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.
1972 – In Allendale, MI, WGVC-TV 35 (now WGVU) signed on the air.
1975 – Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme was sentenced to life in prison for her attempt on the life of President Gerald Ford.
1976 – WTCG-TV, Atlanta, GA, changed its call letters to WTBS, and was up-linked via satellite. The station became the first commercial TV station to cover the entire United States.
1982 – The movie “Tootsie”, starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, and Dabney Coleman, premiered in theaters.
1986 – Wayne Newton won a $19.2 million suit against NBC News. The network had aired reports claiming a link between Newton and mob figures. The reports were proven to be false.
1986 – Davina Thompson became the world’s first recipient of a heart, lungs, and liver transplant.
1989 – The first full episode of the TV series “The Simpsons” aired in the United States. The episode was a Christmas special called “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”. It has become the longest running American sitcom ever.
1993 – The movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, starring starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Darlene Cates, and Leonardo DiCaprio, premiered in theaters.
1999 – The movie “Stuart Little”, about a mouse who is adopted by the Little family, premiered in theaters. Michael J. Fox provided the voice for Stuart.
2002 – McDonald’s Corp. warned that they would report its first quarterly loss in its 47-year history.
2002 – The insurance and finance company Conseco Inc. filed for Chapter 11 protection. It was the third-largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.
2003 – SpaceShipOne, piloted by Brian Binnie, made its first powered and first supersonic flight.
2004 – President George W. Bush signed into law the largest overhaul of U.S. intelligence gathering in 50 years. The bill aimed to tighten borders and aviation security. It also created a federal counter-terrorism center and a new intelligence director.
2007 – Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien announced they’d cross the Writers Guild of America picket lines to return to their talk shows on January 2nd.
2014 – The United States and Cuba re-established diplomatic relations after severing them in 1960.
BIRTHDAYS:
Calvin Tomkins – 100 years old (1925) – Author and art critic
James McGaugh – 94 years old (1931) – Neurobiologist and psychologist
Carlo M. Croce – 81 years old (1944) – Italian-American oncologist and academic
Ernie Hudson – 80 years old (1945) – Actor
Chris Matthews – 80 years old (1945) – Journalist and author
Wes Studi – 78 years old (1947) – Actor and producer
Jim Bonfanti – 77 years old (1948) – Rock drummer
Joel Brooks – 76 years old (1949) – Actor
Laurence F. Johnson – 75 years old (1950) – Educator and author
Maurice Peoples – 75 years old (1950) – Sprinter and coach
Pat Hill – 74 years old (1951) – Football player and coach
Bill Pullman – 72 years old (1953) – Actor
Brad Davis – 70 years old (1955) – Basketball player, coach, and sportscaster
Peter Farrelly – 69 years old (1956) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Bob Ojeda – 68 years old (1957) – Baseball player and coach
Mike Mills – 67 years old (1958) – Bass player, songwriter, and producer
Rocco Mediate – 63 years old (1962) – Golfer and journalist
Jeff Grayer – 60 years old (1965) – Basketball player and coach
Tracy Byrd – 59 years old (1966) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Laurie Holden – 56 years old (1969) – Actress and model
Chuck Liddell – 56 years old (1969) – Mixed martial artist and kick-boxer
Sean Patrick Thomas – 55 years old (1970) – Actor
Eddie Fisher – 52 years old (1973) – Drummer
Rian Johnson – 52 years old (1973) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Sarah Paulson – 51 years old (1974) – Actress
Giovanni Ribisi – 51 years old (1974) – Actor
Marissa Ribisi – 51 years old (1974) – Actress
Nick Dinsmore – 50 years old (1975) – Wrestler and trainer
Milla Jovovich – 50 years old (1975) – Ukrainian-American actress
Takeo Spikes – 49 years old (1976) – Football player and sportscaster
Chase Utley – 47 years old (1978) – Baseball player
Matt Murley – 46 years old (1979) – Ice hockey player
Ryan Hunter-Reay – 45 years old (1980) – Race car driver
Eli Pariser – 45 years old (1980) – Activist and author
Jerry Hsu – 44 years old (1981) – Skateboarder and photographer
Josh Barfield – 43 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Mikky Ekko – 42 years old (1983) – Singer and songwriter
Shannon Woodward – 41 years old (1984) – Actress
Emma Bell – 39 years old (1986) – Actress
Vanessa Zima – 39 years old (1986) – Actress
Chelsea Manning – 38 years old (1987) – Soldier and intelligence analyst
Taylor York – 36 years old (1989) – Musician
Graham Rogers – 35 years old (1990) – Actor
Kiersey Clemons – 32 years old (1993) – Actress
Nat Wolff – 31 years old (1994) – Singer-songwriter, keyboard player and actor
TODAY IS:
- National Maple Syrup Day: Sweet, thick, amber-colored liquid that's pure magic on your pancakes. Its distinct flavor profile is like nothing else on Earth.
- Wright Brothers Day: Two aviation pioneers who defied gravity, unlocked human potential, and inspired generations to reach for the skies and beyond.
- National Device Appreciation Day: National Device Appreciation Day is an exciting day dedicated to celebrating the devices that make our lives easier. From smartphones to laptops, these gadgets have become essential parts of our daily routines. This day encourages us to pause and appreciate the technology that helps us stay connected, entertained, and productive. How to...
- Zagreb Advent: Zagreb Advent is a magical celebration that transforms Croatia's capital into a winter wonderland. The streets light up with festive decorations, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Wooden stalls filled with handmade crafts and delicious treats line the squares, and the air is filled with the scent of mulled wine and...
- Hanukkah: The festival of lights — a time for family, delicious eats, and stories that remind of hope's enduring glow in the darkest times.
- Christmas Bird Count Week: Christmas Bird Count Week is exciting for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers. During this week, thousands of volunteers across multiple countries joined forces to count and document bird species. This event is fun and crucial for gathering important data about bird populations. The observations help scientists track bird numbers and...
- Advent: Advent marks a period of eager anticipation and preparation for Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Each year, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which can fall anywhere between November 27 and December 3, ending on Christmas Eve, December 24. This timing reminds us that the holiday...
- Saturnalia: Saturnalia, celebrated from December 17 to 23, is a vibrant festival from ancient Rome. It originally honored Saturn, the god of agriculture. Initially a one-day affair, the jubilation soon spread across an entire week due to its immense popularity. The festivity marked the end of the autumn planting season and...
- Blue Christmas: While most people are at home opening presents, emergency workers are on duty, ensuring the safety of their communities over the holidays.
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
